Alabama

Remington moving to Huntsville, making former Chrysler plant into gun facility

The proposed Huntsville site for Remington Outdoor Co. as they plan to open a plant to make and develop weapons in Huntsville that could employ about 2,000 workers, sources have confirmed to AL.com. Sources said the plant would be located in a former Chrysler plant on Wall-Triana Highway and Electronics Boulevard, near Huntsville International Airport. That plant was most recently occupied by Continental Automotive, which closed in 2010. (Eric Schultz / eschultz@al.com)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Robert Mayes, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville Madison County, said today that gunmaker Remington will "transform the economic landscape" of North Alabama with a new manufacturing plant here. Mayes spoke as a press conference opened here to spell out the details of the plan to open the plant.

Remington will open a plant in the old Chrysler building, located at Wall Triana Highway and Electronics Boulevard, that will employ up to 2,000 people. The company, one of America's most famous, is headquartered in North Carolina and has divisions producing military weapons, hunting guns, handguns and assault rifles including the AR-15.

2:35 p.m. - Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong says Remington will be the third largest private employer in the county when at full staffing.

2:30 p.m. - "This is Remington country," Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. Battle refers to AL.com poll on Saturday showing 97 percent of those voting support Remington coming here. Battle says he spent $87 on Remington's website today. The mayor said before the press conference that he bought items ranging from nylon dog collars to a firestarter and a folding knife. He promises Remington a first-rate facility, a trained workforce and a place "where you can make a profit."

2:23 p.m. - Gov. Robert Bentley says 24 states made proposals to Remington. Bentley says Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, another Remington suitor, called him Sunday to say he wished Remington was coming there, but is happy Alabama will get the plant if Texas didn't. Alabama has a good business climate, respect for gun rights and support for the military, Bentley said. "Why will you prosper?" Bentley continued. "The people we will train and you will hire will be the best ... in the world."

2:20 p.m. - Kollitides says selecting a partner for growth was not easy. "We undertook a very rigorous process," he says, citing workforce, quality of life, economic climate, the building it will move into and the state's support for gun rights. He praises existing Remington workforce but says it cannot keep with demand for company's products. Kollitides confirms company will bring "more than 2,000" to Alabama.

2:15 p.m. - Remington group CEO George Kollitides says Alabama's state motto - "We Dare Defend Our Rights' -"says it all." He says company is glad to bring oldest gun manufacturer in America to city that built the Apollo moon rocket.

2:12 p.m. - State commerce secretary Greg Canfield says 9 sites in Alabama were shown to Remington for expansion. It quickly narrowed down to Huntsville. Canfield cites fact Alabama is "right to work" state with right building, right mix of skilled workers. "We are a state that is strongly supportive of the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms," Canfield says to applause.

(This story was updated at 3 p.m. to correct Remington's headquarters state to North Carolina)